(Newser)
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The Deepwater Horizon rig wasn't the first to explode and spew oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists are looking back to a 1979 disaster that, they tell the Miami Herald , offers insight into the current disaster. “Everybody keeps saying the spill is unprecedented,” says one geologist. “That is such bullshit. We had perfect precedence.” The Ixtoc I, a Mexican-owned well, dumped 138 million gallons into the Gulf over 9 months.

“It coated the Texas beaches in a ribbon of oil 30 to 50 feet” wide, one researcher recalls, costing area restaurants and hotels millions, before tropical storms finally cleared the beaches. The well was capped with a cement plug. The Ixtoc was the largest accidental spill ever, but Deepwater Horizon could overtake it. BP says it's leaking "only" 210,000 gallons a day, but scientists say it's closer to 4 million.

If we are being allowed to view 24 hr. live view of the oil leak by BP why did it's apeareance not change in color or any other way when the "Top Kill" operation was suspended wednesday at 12:00 midnight for 16 hrs. without any notice to anyone? I personally not seen the single pipe we were shown at first with the single big gusher of oil comming out the open end to the right side of the screen, have you? What is BP showing us? Why didn't BP tell anyone they stopped the operation? Is anything BP or the Government telling us true?

donrich

May 28, 2010 6:09 PM CDT

If we are watching 24 hr. live feed of the leak, why did it not chance in color or any other way at all while the "Top Kill" operation was suspended Wednesday night at 12:00 midnight and not started back for 16 hrs? What are they showing us? What are they telling us? Why didn't they tell us they stopped the operation before we found out for ourselves? Is any thing BP or the Goverment says true except the fact that they have an uncontroled oil well leak? I don't think BP has any idea what to do about it" And our wonderful President is actually going to take 3hrs. out of his vacation weekend to drop by for a few photo ops and show us he's in charge. (Sigh)

timeandagain

May 25, 2010 4:55 AM CDT

Are you watching this, Obama? Or still basketball? Let us know when you are done...